It happened to me
When Rachael Pickworth decided to ditch the car, the pounds soon started dropping off…
I lost 9st on the school run
Looking out of the car window as I drove my daughter Chloe to school, the streets were lined with parents walking with their children. as they hurried along, I remember thinking they were mad. why on earth would they want to walk when they could just hop in the car? But deep down I had to admit part of me was embarrassed, too. You see, the truth was I was so unfit that to me, walking the 10 minutes to the school gates seemed impossible...
When I was younger I always thought I was big – at 5ft 10in I towered over all of my friends. But looking back now I realise I was perfectly healthy. I enjoyed sport and was a competitive swimmer, training five times a week. But as I got older, going out with my friends became more important and soon I stopped exercising entirely.
Then, in July 2002, aged 17, I met Rob. The more we got to know each other, the more I found myself falling for him and it wasn’t long before we became a couple.
Out of control
Rob had his own place, so we spent most of our time there. A night in with a takeaway became our evening ritual, and we’d sit in front of the TV devouring pizza, chicken curry or chips. Soon the pounds started to creep on to my 11st frame and my size 12 tops began to get tighter.
A year later I moved in and our takeaway habit only got worse. The weight continued to pile on and although I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror, Rob always made me feel beautiful.
When I fell pregnant two years later,
‘i was the elephant in the room’
Rob and I were so happy, but I took eating for two literally. I’d snack on extra chocolate bars throughout the day, reasoning that my body needed the energy.
Only, by the time our daughter Chloe was born in August 2006, I’d gone up to 17st 11lb and a size 20. I was horrified and vowed to slim, so I started doing exercise DVD workouts when Chloe was asleep. I managed to lose the baby weight in time for our wedding in September 2009.
But soon after I got the contraceptive implant and all the weight I’d lost piled back on. I felt so frustrated, all my hard work was for nothing. What was the point in trying if my contraception made me fat anyway? So I reverted back to gorging on takeaways and munching on chocolate bars throughout the day.
I was lazy too. As Chloe got older I’d drive her to school or the park at weekends – both were less than a 10-minute walk away. And despite being on my feet most of the day working as a factory supervisor, it only meant that by the time I got home I’d be starving and order extra sides with dinner.
I hated the way I looked, especially in photos, I’d do my best to cover up my flabby arms with long-sleeved tops, even when it was hot outside.
By 2013, I was 20st and a size 24. Aged 28, I hated the way I looked and felt. When I went out with my friends I always made jokes about my size, addressing the elephant in the room – me. I thought that if I said it about myself then no one else would.
But then, in September 2015, Chloe came home from school and told me that two girls in her class had been talking about me. ‘Your mum’s really fat,’ they’d said. She was so upset and I was mortified for embarrassing her.
Lifestyle change
It was then that I knew I couldn’t go on like this. That October I went to my GP. She referred me to Everyone Health – a community health and wellbeing service. There, I spoke to a psychologist and a dietician, who gave me a lot of information about food. I’d been living this way for so long, I needed help to make a permanent change.
I was given recipes to try, like cottage pie and spaghetti bolognese, and advice on controlling my portion sizes, eating more slowly, and not too late at night.
I felt so much more confident with a plan, so decided to give it a go. I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to make meals from scratch, and not only did Rob love them too, but we were saving so much money from not buying takeaways any more.
Within my first week I lost 6lb and as the weight dropped off, I began to get more energy. But I needed to do more, I wanted to start exercising too, only I didn’t know how to fit it into my day.
So, in January 2016 ,I decided to ditch the car and start walking Chloe, then nine, to school. It was only a short distance away from our home in Nottinghamshire, but I knew if I did that four times a day it would really improve my health.
Walking back to health
At first it was a bit of a struggle, and while I wasn’t panting or hugely out of breath, I did find that by the time I got home I’d worked up a bit of a sweat.
The more weight I lost, the more encouraged I was to continue. I didn’t even miss my old lifestyle. And every day – no matter the weather – I walked Chloe without fail, and each time I did it I always felt so proud.
Soon I was walking the route with ease, so in March 2016, I decided to take on a new challenge. I downloaded the Couch to 5k app on my phone and, after dropping Chloe off at school, I’d go for a run.
By May 2016, I was down to 15st. As my waist emerged, I no longer hated what I saw in the mirror. And each time I went down a dress size, I bought a new item of clothing to celebrate.
Now, I run three times a week and I’m down to 10st 11lb. I wear a size 10 in bottoms and 12 on top. I’ll even show off my arms – something I never thought I’d be able to do. My life has been completely transformed – and it’s all thanks to the school run.